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NZ Cricket welcome Vincent ban

New Zealand Cricket supports the lifetime ban handed to former Black Cap Lou Vincent, saying it is appalled by his involvement in match-fixing.

Vincent pleaded guilty to 18 breaches of the England and Wales Cricket Board's anti-corruption code and agreed to the heavy sanction which bans him from any involvement in cricket.

NZC chief executive David White said in a short statement his organisation welcomed the outcome.

He said NZC is a strong advocate of the anti-corruption drive in cricket and was "appalled" by Vincent's repeated offences.

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White said he wouldn't comment further as Vincent is still involved in a British police investigation into match-fixing.

International Cricket Council chief executive David Richardson also applauded Vincent's ban, which follows the same punishment handed to his former Sussex teammate Naveed Arif last month.

"These life bans should send out a loud and clear message to all those who indulge

in corrupt practices and think they can get away with it."

Vincent released a statement on Wednesday, hours before the ban was imposed, apologising for his actions.

The 35-year-old said he had lived with his "dark secret" for many years, and had only recently decided to come forward and tell the truth.

"I am a cheat. I have abused my position as a professional sportsman on a number of occasions by choosing to accept money through fixing," he said.

"I have shamed my country. I have shamed my sport. I have shamed those close to me."

The punishment stems from one-day matches that Vincent admitted he helped rig in English county cricket.

Four charges related to a Twenty20 match between his team Lancashire and Durham in June 2008. The remaining 14 concerned two fixtures played in August 2011 - a Sussex v Lancashire Twenty20 and a Sussex v Kent one-day match.

England international Stuart Broad says a life ban should be the standard punishment for any player found guilty of corruption as they are routinely reminded of the protocols, to the point of exhaustion.